Church News

Thursday

A mini-retreat, focusing on Advent Scriptures and psalms, will take place Dec. 13-15 at Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse.

Presentations will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.

"Recent Scripture scholarship offers rich insights into the Infancy Narratives found in the early chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Participants will explore these insights and consider how they can enrich their prayer ... and their lives," said IHM.

Kathleen Budesky, IHM, MA, will facilitate. The director of Visitation North Spirituality Center, she holds a master's degree in religious studies and spirituality. She has served in secondary schools, both in religious studies departments and administration, most recently at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills.

Cost is $30 a day, which includes lunch.

To register, contact Arlene Jekielek, IHM, at 240-9699 or ajekielek@ihmsisters.org before Thursday. Overnight accommodations are available at River House Spirituality Center for $45 a night for one to two nights and $25 for each additional night. To reserve a room, contact River House at 240-5494 or riverhouse@ihmsisters.org.

"Sister Smith will explain the meaning of the image of the Guadalupe Virgin in the light of new science. According to NASA, the stars on the Virgin's robe exactly fit the constellation of the southern sky on the night of Dec. 12, when the Virgin appeared," said IHM.

Sister Smith, a native of St. Louis, Mo., began her career at Webster College and received fine arts training at Wayne State University. She earned a master of divinity degree and had been writing icons full-time for 18 years. Many of her icons hang in churches, chapels, hospital lobbies and private homes in North America and Europe.

Cost is $15.

Registration is required by contacting Arlene Jekielek, IHM, at 240-9699 or ajekielek@ihmsisters.org.

Audrey Crepeau-Sepp, Karen Haman-Shaw and Nancy Vallieres, all of Monroe, Mich., recently celebrated their commitments as Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Associates.

The associate ceremony, with the theme of "Mary, the Mother of God," took place in the IHM Motherhouse Chapel. Diann Cousino, IHM, served as Ms. Haman-Shaw's and Ms. Vallieres' vowed companion on the journey of preparation. Marian Harvey, IHM, served as Ms. Crepeau-Sepp's vowed companion.

Ms. Crepeau-Sepp has a master's degree in education from Marygrove College, Detroit. She was an elementary school teacher, until retiring. Ms. Haman-Shaw is a receptionist at the IHM Motherhouse and serves as a volunteer for the Sisters. Ms. Vallieres also is a Motherhouse receptionist. Previously, she worked for the Sisters in the IHM Health Care Center and at Visitation Spirituality Center.

"IHM Associates are men and women who have come to identify with the spirit, life and mission of the IHM Sisters. While maintaining their own lifestyles, IHM Associates choose to covenant with the Monroe IHM Sisters for a specific and renewable period of time, focusing especially on areas of their choice, including those of prayer, community and/or ministry," said IHM.

PHOTO EMAILED TO JESSICA

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Nine men from Compelled Church of Temperance recently returned from a mission trip to Haiti.

The men did construction for Mission of Hope Nov. 5-12. Work included roofing and pouring concrete.

Mission of Hope is a ministry in Titanyen, Haiti, an hour north of Port Au Prince. Mission of Hope has a school, orphanage, hospital and food distribution center, which provides 55,000 meals a day to children.

Each man from Compelled Church paid $1,200 for his own travel.

Pastor Nate Elarton is excited about the continued partnership with Haiti through Mission of Hope and H.U.T.S. "We have been involved closely with Mission of Hope before the earthquake, the need is greater now than ever before," he said.

Compelled Church has sponsored multiple trips for construction, medical and food distribution. Another trip is planned for February. In June, a trip is planned for another area with the Helping, Understanding and Teaching Haitians ministry.

"We are committed to the nation of Haiti long term," he added.

To learn more about the Haiti trips and the church's ministries, contact Pastor Elarton at 850-0051 or nate@compelledchurch.tv.

Pastor Zimmerman, a native of Monroe, has been the church's pastor for 15 years. The son of Blaine and Mary Lou Zimmerman, he graduated from Monroe High School in 1978. He married the former Julie Dussia, also of Monroe, on June 21, 1985. They have three children, Alec, 23; Rachel, 20, and Aaron, 18.

Pastor Kesson, a native of Potterville, has been the church's associate pastor for three years. He married the former Maria Hanewacker of Shelby Township on Oct. 25, 2003. They have two children, Andrew, 5, and Joshua, 2. Pastor Aaron also currently serves Emmanuel United Methodist Church of Blissfield.

"As a church, we are so blessed to have the leadership of such devoted and fine men," said the church's Kay Platt. "They truly are loved and appreciated by our congregation."

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Lutheran Hour Ministries has announced an upcoming program.

"More Than He Seems" is this Sunday's theme for "The Lutheran Hour."

"Originally, the word meek didn't mean powerless or impotent. No, a person was meek if he kept his power under control and used it for a purpose. That's the way Jesus was meek. Power for a purpose," said organizers.

Host is Dr. Ken Klaus.

"The Lutheran Hour" airs at 6:30 a.m. Sundays on WDFN (1130); at 7 a.m. on WPOS (102.3); at noon on WRDT (560), and at 1 p.m. on XM satellite radio Family Talk Radio 170. It is broadcast on more than 800 North American stations.